KINGSPORT — Three men are facing drug charges as the result of a Kingsport Police Department courtesy officer’s distribution of Halloween safety materials at an apartment complex.

According to a KPD news release, at approximately 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, the officer was handing out educational materials to residents at Allandale Falls Apartments, located at 1000 University Boulevard, when he noticed a strong odor of marijuana originating from Apartment A-10. He made contact with the residents, told them what he had smelled, and asked them where the marijuana was located. One of the residents, Brett Anderson, voluntarily turned over two bags of marijuana. Also in the apartment at the time of this incident were a co-renter, Zachary Bailey, and a visitor, Isaac Roop.

While standing at the entrance to the apartment, the courtesy officer could see multiple items of unlawful drug paraphernalia, including traditional marijuana pipes and marijuana water pipes (commonly referred to as bongs) in plain view. At this point, the courtesy officer summoned KPD patrol and vice units.

KPD vice detectives located additional unlawful drug paraphernalia inside the apartment including scales, rolling papers, baggies, and baggie ties. More marijuana was found as well, for a total of approximately four ounces. They also located Schedule I narcotics that appeared to be some variant of Ecstasy in the form of the trendy yet dangerous new street drugs Molly or Gravel. Other Schedule I narcotics (LSD) were also found inside the apartment.